Static Main Menu

Coffee Cultivation: Types and Regions of Coffee Cultivation

Article shared by :

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Coffee Cultivation: Types and Regions of Coffee Cultivation!

Coffee:

Coffee is a popular drink all over the world. The coffee tree is a native of the highlands of southern Ethiopia and the name coffee is derived from that of the highland district of Kaffa where it was found.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

From Ethiopia, it was taken across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.

The practice of coffee drinking was first started in Middle East and was subsequently introduced in Europe, where it became very popular. In 18th century Dutch recommended the commercial cultivation in East Indies. From here its cultivation spread too many parts of the tropics.

The status of coffee-producing areas has changed from time to time. Arabian Peninsula, the home of Mocha coffee, at first had a monopoly in its production. It was then introduced in Jamaica and other West Indian islands, and the Blue Mountain coffee became world renowned.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Dutch then introduced coffee plantation in Indonesia, brought about the emergence of Java coffee, which is highly flavored. In Sri Lanka also coffee cultivation was started and finally Brazil then rose to prominence and has become the leading producer of coffee in the world.

Cultivation and Types:

The coffee tree may grow up to a height of 9 metres, but its height is kept low up to 1.5 to 2.5 metres in commercial cultivation. The coffee is obtained from seeds of berries which are dark red in colour when ripe. Each berry contains two seeds or beans which are dried, roasted and ground into coffee powder.

Coffee cultivation is a technical work. First of all coffee is propagated from seeds or cuttings in a nursery and, after about six months, it is transplanted to the field. Plants are positioned 3 meters apart which grow rapidly.

Its harvesting generally began in the third year after planting, but actual profitable production used to start after fifth year. An average tree yields about 1.4 to 2.3 kg of coffee berries in a year. Coffee picking is done by hand.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

After picking, the coffee berries go through a number of processes. These are removal of outer cover, fermentation then dried beans are winnowed and graded, afterwards beans are roasted and then ground into coffee powder which is used to make beverage.

There are three types of coffee according to their nature and geographical distribution:

(a) Coffee Robusta:

Mostly grows on lowlands of African plateaus. It contributes 15-20 per cent of global output.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(b) Coffee Arabica:

According to volume of production and popularity, it is the most important and contributes 70—80 per cent of global output. It grows in the slopes of the highlands.

(c) Coffee Liberica:

Inferior grade coffee contributes only 5-10 per cent of global output and grows in Africa.